Scottish Armed Forces Education Support Group: terms of reference

Aim

The group aims to engage and support stakeholders in improving outcomes and educational experiences for children from Armed Forces families. The group will identify key issues which create barriers to learning, and work collaboratively to overcome them. The views and unique contributions of young people from Armed Forces families will be sought and valued throughout.

Roles and responsibilities

The key roles and responsibilities of the SAFESG are:

1. To act as a focus for communication and engagement with stakeholders on the implications of policy and practice across Scotland. This will include considering and responding to research and knowledge shared throughout the stakeholder network.

2.

     a.  To share practice and experience to be able to identify, consider and recommend solutions to the additional challenges that children from Armed Forces families may face in school life.

      b. To monitor and raise awareness of projects supporting Armed Force’s children, such as those supported by the Education Support Fund, Covenant funding and others.

3. To actively seek out and include the voices of children and young people throughout the work of the group. To celebrate the unique contributions and achievements of these young people.  

4.

     a. To provide accessible information about Scottish education, including the ASL framework and how it can support Armed Forces children, young people and their families.

     b. Maintain an effective exchange of relevant information between tri-Service leads, the Firm Base Steering Group  and the SAFESG, including timely advice and best practice around children from Armed Forces families and the Scottish education system.

5. To feed into broader ASL policy discussions through contributions to the Additional Support for Learning Implementation Group (ASLIG). 

6. To act as a forum for the National Transitions Officer (NTO) to share good practice and work with the SAFESG to support Armed Forces children

7. The group will engage annually with the Families Federations to ensure the voices of Armed Forces families are heard.

Operating practices of the group

• All information tabled at meetings and subsequent discussion will be regarded as sensitive and confidential until clearance is given.
• A record of decisions will be produced from each meeting.
• This TOR and meeting agendas will be available publically at [website.scot.gov].
• The Group meets 4 times a year.

Membership

Organisation	Title
Directorate Children and Young People (MOD)	Senior Education Officer
MOD Army	Armed Forces Children’s Education Lead HQ 51st Infantry Brigade & HQ Scotland (Secretary)
MOD Army	SGO2 G1 Ops Plans, HQ 51st Infantry Brigade & HQ Scotland
MOD RAF	Community Development Officer
MOD Royal Navy	NAVY TRG LDO (N) OIC
Education Scotland	Senior Education Officer Inclusion Wellbeing and Equalities.
Scottish Government, Learning Directorate	Senior Policy Officer, Support and Wellbeing Unit (Chair)
ADES	ADES Advisor to NTO
ADES	National Transition Officer
Royal Caledonian Education Trust	Education Manager
COSLA	Chief Officer, Children & Young People

Other people may attend by invitation